Let's Start Again (standard:Psychological fiction, 1624 words)
Author: Hulsey	Added: Sep 13 2011	Views/Reads: 3545/2214	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Do you believe in reincarnation?

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Luke searched Christine's tearful eyes. “I think your wife understands.”


The husband could see that his wife was upset. “I think you'd better
leave, young man... I don't know what your game is, but I can guess. 
Now get your...” 

“No, wait, Jonathan,” insisted Christine. “I think we need to sit
down... If this is what I think it is, then you ought to hear him.” 

Jonathan conceded and the trio retreated into the rear garden. They
settled beside the sun-kissed swimming pool and Christine opened a 
bottle of claret. 

“So what's David's death got to do with you, son?” asked Jonathan. Luke
hesitated, finding his words hard to come by. “What I'm about to tell 
you, you will find difficult to believe. In fact, you will no doubt 
believe me to be crazy... All I ask is that you let me explain without 
interruption, and then do as you wish.” 

“Fire away, son,” grinned the nervous-looking husband, who was cleaning
his sunglasses. 

“First of all, may I ask you if you believe in reincarnation?” 

Jonathan rolled his eyes and drained his wine glass. “What? No, of
course I don't. I'm Church of England, son, and I leave such 
mumbo-jumbo to the weirdoes and the witch doctors.” 

Luke scowled. “Then what I'm about to tell you will be most difficult...
Jonathan, I was once married to your wife.” 

“What! How bloody absurd. You're just a bloody kid, goddamnit... What
are you after, Yank? Money? Is that your plan? Well, I can tell...” 

“Shut up!” demanded Christine. “Jonathan, I know that I never spoke to
you much about David. It was out of respect for you... David believed 
in reincarnation... In fact, he always insisted that he had lived many 
lives before... Have you heard of Professor George Smitheringale?” 

Jonathan shrugged. “No, should I have?” 

Christine continued. “He's a founder member of CSI, the Committee for
Sceptical Inquiry. They're a group of prominent citizens whose aim it 
is to debunk fake spiritualists and psychics. Professor Smitheringale 
investigated David, and after delving into his alleged past lives, he 
was unable to prove that David was lying. David even underwent 
hypnosis, and when in a trance, he assumed the guise of five of the 
people that he claimed he once was. The professor, in his summing up, 
claimed that of all the subjects that he had investigated, David, he 
was unsure of.” 

Jonathan smirked and poured himself another glass of claret. “So let's
suppose that this impostor here read about David, then he comes up with 
some corrupt scheme to attain money from you. Wouldn't that make 
sense?” 

Luke clenched his fists. “I'm not after your darned money.” 

“Then why come here and upset my wife? I mean, Christine, does this
spotty teenager even resemble David? Yes, he has blonde hair and blue 
eyes, but that hardly qualifies him as Lazarus does it?” 

“It was a promise,” interrupted Christine. “David promised me that if he
ever died before me, he would contact me.” 

“Bullshit!” moaned Jonathan. “I don't believe I'm hearing this.” 

Luke ignored the protest. “Christine, I slipped and fell, fully-clothed
into the pool when drunk, during our honeymoon in Barbados. When 
Rachel, our daughter was born, I wanted to call her Danielle... I 
bought you an eternity ring in Egypt, which you lost. You were so upset 
that you purchased an identical one and never told me about it until 
seven years later.” 

Luke could not help but notice that Jonathan was smirking at him. The
infuriating man drained the remainder of the claret. 

“So why now?” asked Christine. “When exactly did you know that you were
David in a past life?” 

“When? I guess it was around about when I was four, when my brain
developed fully... My immaturity prevented me from making contact with 
you. My parents in the States believe that I'm here to visit a pen pal. 
Of course, I haven't told them.” 

Jonathan left and returned shortly with another bottle of claret.
Judging by his demeanour, he had been drinking earlier. He swallowed a 
liberal mouthful of claret and placed his arm around his wife. “Well, 
darling; are you going to tell him or do you wish me to do the honour?” 


“No! Jonathan!” yelled Christine. 

The intoxicated husband was defiant. “You see, Luke, David, or whatever
you care to call yourself. It's not only you who can spring a 
surprise... I was having an...” 

“No! You bastard!” screamed Christine, rising to her feet and slapping
her husband incessantly. 

Jonathan pushed his wife to the ground. “You see, son; twenty years ago,
I was screwing your wife... Yes, you pathetic shit. You were unable to 
satisfy lustful Christine here, so I naturally complied with her 
wishes... Anyway, we later...” 

“No! No! No!” pleaded Christine, who was now knelt before her husband,
her hands held together in prayer. 

Luke trembled, disbelieving what her despicable husband was claiming. 

Jonathan was now on his feet, clutching his bottle of claret. “As I was
saying, before I was rudely interrupted by my delicious, yet devious 
wife... Haven't you ever wondered who the hit and run driver was? Well, 
my mysterious friend, let me enlighten you... If you are a charlatan, 
which I suspect you are, then you'll be unperturbed by my admission. If 
however, you are, or were David, then I doubt you'll be able to 
convince the police of my crime. You see, Luke, it was I who drove into 
you. Yes, your holier than holy wife, your majesty, Christine agreed to 
dispose of you. You see, lust is a dangerous trait, which furnishes us 
with such bravado. We eliminate you, and we live happily ever after... 
Your life insurance helped of course, but that enticement was not the 
reason I killed you... So there you have it... Do close the gate on the 
way out.” 

Luke wandered towards the swimming pool, and Christine tugged at his
arm. 

“I'm sorry, David. I'm so sorry.” 

Luke turned towards her, his eyes red and his lips quivering. “So I
gather you doubted that I would one day return. You never believed me, 
did you?... What a shitty life... Do you know what, Chris; let's start 
again.” 

Luke flung himself backwards, hitting the surface of the pool with a
loud splash. He purposely swallowed mouthfuls of the chlorine-infested 
pool, resisting the urge to tread water. He plummeted to the depths of 
the pool, a contented smile on his face. 


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